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  Baseball batting training deviceUSPTO Application #: 20060089212Title: Baseball batting training device Abstract: A training device for baseball batting is described. The training device includes an upper rail and a lower rail supported in fixed relationship to each other by a plurality of rail supports. A plurality of legs support the rails and rail supports at a height above the ground that allows a batter to swing a bat between the rails using a natural batting swing. A plurality of resistance members are disposed between the rails to provide resistance as a batter swings the bat along a swing path between the rails. (end of abstract) Agent: Ip Group Of Dla Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP - Philadelphia, PA, US Inventor: Stephen Lewis Marchel USPTO Applicaton #: 20060089212 - Class: 473422000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Playing Field Or Court Game; Game Element Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Practice Or Training Device The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089212. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to the training of athletes, and particularly to the training of baseball batters. BACKGROUND [0002] Baseball batting is a skill that requires agility, hand-eye coordination and strength. A player's ability to contact the ball and put it in play depends in large part on agility and hand-eye coordination. Conventionally, a player improves his or her skills by participating in batting practice or by performing dedicated agility exercises. Such activities can help the player develop the ability to hit the ball squarely and with the "sweet" part of the bat. [0003] Once a batter has successfully put a ball into play, what becomes of the play often depends on the strength of the batter. For example, when a ball is hit squarely, strength can mean the difference between a home run and a fly-out or between a line drive base hit and a weak ground ball. Therefore, baseball batters often strive to become stronger. [0004] In the past, baseball players engaged in traditional weight training to build strength. Such training could involve free weights, bench pressing machines or other gym equipment. However, traditional weight training does not specifically target the muscles or body tissues used in batting. Nor does it provide much help in developing agility or hand-eye coordination. [0005] What is needed is a training device that will enable baseball players to develop the specific muscles using in batting. Such a device that would, at the same time, also help develop the agility and hand-eye coordination a batter requires is also needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] This invention relates to a device for baseball batting training. The training device includes an upper rail and a lower rail supported in fixed relationship to each other by a plurality of rail supports. A plurality of legs support the rails and rail supports at a height above the ground that allows a batter to swing a bat between the rails using a natural batting swing. A plurality of resistance members are disposed between the rails to provide resistance as the batter swings the bat through the swing path between the rails. [0007] In some embodiments, the rail supports maintain a pair of arcuate rails in substantially parallel relationship. The resistance members can be in the form of a plurality of gates extending between the substantially parallel rails, where the gates include a resiliently flexible upper portion engaged with the upper rail and a resiliently flexible lower portion engaged with the lower rail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. [0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outside and top of a baseball batting training device according to an embodiment of the invention. [0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1. [0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of a resistance member of the device of FIG. 1. [0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the outside of the device of FIG. 1 in an inclined position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0013] It will be appreciated that the following description is intended to refer to specific embodiments of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings and is not intended to define or limit the invention, other than in the appended claim. [0014] In the figures, in which like reference numerals indicate like elements, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a training device 10. The training device 10 can include a pair of substantially parallel rails, shown as an upper rail 12 and a lower rail 14. As used herein, the term substantially parallel rails means two or more elongated members, whether straight or curved, that are substantially the same distance apart along most of their lengths. The distance between the rails can be selected so that a batter can swing a bat through the device, as described in more detail below, without fear of striking the rails, and to establish an appropriate space to install resistance member, also described below. It is contemplated that a distance between the rails of about 55 cm (about 22 inches) is suitable. The upper rail 12 and the lower rail 14 can be flexible in a horizontal plane so that the rails can be adjusted from a straight configuration to arcuate configurations having infinitely selectable centers of curvature. [0015] The rails 12, 14 can be supported in substantially parallel arrangement by two or more rail supports. The rail supports can be open rail supports, such as C-shaped brackets 16A, 16B and 16C. The C-shaped brackets can be arranged such that they have open aspects oriented toward the center of curvature of the rails when the rails are arranged arcuately. The open aspects of the C-shaped brackets (or other open support) define the inside of the training device 10, while the closed aspects of the C-shaped brackets define the outside of the training device 10. The C-shaped brackets can be adequately deep to swing a bat through the open bracket without fear of striking the bracket. It is contemplated that a bracket opening depth of about 60 cm (about 24 inches) is suitable. [0016] A plurality of resistance members are disposed between the upper rail 12 and the lower rail 14. Each resistance member can be in the form of a gate 18 having a resiliently flexible upper portion 20 engaged with the upper rail 12 and a resiliently flexible lower portion 22 engaged with the lower rail 14. The upper portions 20 and lower portions 22 can include rail engaging members, such as posts 24. The posts 24 can extend through orifices in the upper or lower rails 12, 14. The ends of the posts 24 can be threaded so as to receive a nut (not shown) to securely engage the gates 18 with the rails 12, 14. Alternatively, the posts 24 can include grooves, orifices or other structures for receiving clips, pins or the like. In another alternative form, the posts 24 are smooth, to facilitate easy molding of the portions. In that case, self tapping nuts, clamps or the like can engage the posts 24 to securely engage the gates 20. The configuration and operation of the gates 18 are described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 3. [0017] The open rail supports can be supported above the ground by vertical supports. The vertical supports can support the open rail supports directly or indirectly, such as by a connection with one or more of the rails. The vertical supports can be telescoping legs 26A, 26B and 26C and can include stabilizing feet. The telescoping legs can be uniformly adjusted so as to position the open rail supports, rails and associated resistance members at a height above the ground that allows a batter to swing a bat between the rails using a natural swing. The distance can be selected based on the height of the batter to be trained and the characteristics of the batter's swing. A typical batter to be trained may desire to have the lower rail 14 of the device about 90 cm (about 3 feet) above the ground. The telescoping legs can also be adjusted in a non-uniform manner to incline the substantially parallel rails, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 4. [0018] The open rail supports include rail receiving members adjacent the open aspects for securely receiving the pair of substantially parallel rails. The rail receiving members at the top of the open rail supports can be clamps 28 hingedly engaged with the ends of the C-shaped brackets 16. Each clamp 28 can rotate about a horizontal hinge pin 30 (obscured from view by rail 12 at the top of the open rail support, but shown adjacent the bottom of the open rail support where rail 14 is received). The hinge pin permits the clamp 28 to swing into engagement with a clamp receiving tab 32 disposed at the end of the C-shaped supports 16. A fastener, such as a bolt and nut, can be placed through orifices in the hinged clamp 28 and clamp receiving tab 32 and tightened to retain the rail 12 once engaged with the rail receiving members. Other fasteners, such as clamps, pins, straps, mating tabs and slots, or other known fastening or locking devices can also be used. Alternatively, the rail receiving members can be made of unitary construction with the C-shaped clamps 16. Embodiments of unitary construction can be flexed to engage the rails 12, 14 and then tightened using any of the means described above to securely retain the rails. Each clamp 28 can instead be a distinct part that can be independently fastened to the end of the C-shaped bracket 16 above and below each rail. [0019] The rail receiving members at the bottom of the open rail support can be similar to that at the top. If a hinged clamp is used, the clamp and clamp receiving tab can be offset from the vertical plane of the open rail support so as not interfere with the portion of the open rail support adjacent the vertical leg 26. Otherwise, a threaded or smooth orifice can be provided through the adjacent portion, through which a fastener can be inserted and tightened to retain the rail 14. Continue reading... Full patent description for Baseball batting training device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Baseball batting training device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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